DETROIT — Common Motors’ revenue fell 4.5% in 2020, however a powerful second half greater than offset the consequences of pandemic-related manufacturing facility closures and a expensive airbag recall.
The Detroit automaker stated Wednesday it made $6.43 billion as demand for its autos surged late in a yr dominated by coronavirus upheaval. Within the fourth quarter, the corporate made $2.85 billion.
After GM’s North American factories reopened in Might, the corporate ran a lot of them flat-out however couldn’t make up all of the misplaced manufacturing. As clients returned to purchasing once more, stock was brief and GM’s U.S. gross sales for the yr fell 12% from 2019. However as a result of patrons purchased dearer vehicles and SUVs and loaded them with choices, the corporate was in a position to flip an enormous revenue.
Excluding one-time gadgets, GM made $4.90 per share in 2021, beating Wall Avenue estimates of $4.40. Income for the yr was $122.49 billion, which additionally handed estimates of $120.83 billion, in accordance with FactSet.
For the fourth quarter, the corporate earned $1.93 per share, additionally forward of analyst expectations of $1.60. Income was $37.52 billion, surpassing estimates of $36.18 billion.
However there are new challenges forward. The corporate predicted {that a} international scarcity of semiconductor chips will value it $1.5 billion to $2 billion earlier than taxes this yr as a result of misplaced manufacturing. Nonetheless, GM expects pretax earnings for the yr of $10 billion to $11 billion, or $4.50 to $5.25 per share.
The scarcity has pressured GM to cancel shifts at a number of factories, however CEO Mary Barra stated it will not hit GM’s most worthwhile autos which can be in excessive demand. She expects the chip scarcity, which is hitting the whole auto business, to resolve itself this yr.
“We’re doing all the pieces potential,” Barra stated. “We can’t lose any manufacturing all year long because it pertains to full-size vehicles and SUVs.”
After rising greater than 36% this yr, shares dipped greater than 1% earlier than the opening bell Wednesday to $55.29.
Barra stated in a letter to buyers that a mixture of pickup vehicles and SUVs helped the corporate to its largest U.S. market share acquire since 1990. The U.S. is by far GM’s most profitable market. The corporate ended final yr with 17.1% of U.S. new automobile gross sales, up 0.6 share factors from 2019.
In North America, GM’s main revenue heart, the corporate made simply over $9 billion earlier than taxes. Which means about 44,000 members of the United Auto Employees union will get revenue sharing checks of round $9,000 later this month.
The fourth-quarter and full-year outcomes took a $1.1 billion hit from a big recall involving 7 million large pickup vehicles and SUVs worldwide with harmful airbag inflators made by Takata.
In November, the U.S. Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration denied GM’s makes an attempt to keep away from the recall, and the corporate stated it will comply. The automaker had petitioned the company 4 instances since 2016 to keep away from remembers, contending the airbag inflator canisters have been secure on the highway and in testing. However the company stated the inflators nonetheless run the danger of exploding.
Takata used the risky chemical ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion and inflate the airbags in a crash. However the chemical can deteriorate when uncovered to warmth and humidity and explode with an excessive amount of power, blowing aside a metallic canister and hurling shrapnel into drivers and passengers.
The issues induced the biggest string of car remembers in U.S. historical past involving 19 automakers. No less than 27 folks have been killed worldwide.
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